Refrigerated storage container for transporting frozen products



0m. 1, 1940. R STOVER 2,216,330

REFRIGERATED STORAGE CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTIMF: FROZEN PRODUCTS Filed Aug. 15, 1938 I4 ,/Il 1s /0 22 I2 PIG'L INVENTOR. RUSSELL STOVER.

Patented Oct. 1, 1940 v .UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATED STORAGE CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING FROZEN PRODUCTS Russell Stover, Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 13, 1938, Serial No. 224,831 2 Claims. (01. 62 91.5)

This invention relates to containers and more erant with a storage container for unstable comparticularly to refrigerated storage and shipping modities in accordance with'the teachings of the containers for normally liquid material frozen present invention. to a substantially solid state. Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view in 5 It contemplates more especially the provision elevation of a series of nested containers similar 5 i of an improved, simple,- and comparatively'inexto that shown in Figure '1 in conjunction with pensive container or plurality of containers that spacers to define an outline thereof.

are normally collapsible and non-rigid to confine Figure 3 is a plan view of the container shown normally materials frozen to a substantially solid in Figure 1, parts thereof being broken away to state. clarify the showing. 10

Numerous types of cartons and containers have Figure 4 is a plan view of a perforated disc of heretofore been proposed for the storage and shipa spacer of the type shown in conjunction with ment of normally unstable commodities such as the nested containers illustrated in Figure 2. ice cream and thelike; Known types of con- Figure 5 is a plan view of a collapsed container 5 tainers are comparatively expensive and certain of the type utilized in connection with the arof these are incapable of re-use so as to constitute rangements shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. a comparatively heavy expense item in the storage The structure selected for illustration comprises and shipment of normally liquid materials frozen a plurality of collapsible non-rigid containers Ill, to a substantially solid state. H, l2, l3, and M, in this instance five, which are One object of the present invention is to proof slightly increased size relative to each other 20 vide an improved container for the storage and to afford their nested relationship with a slight shipment of normally unstable commodities. air space l5, l6, l1 and IB therebetween. The Another object is to provide non-rigid concontainers ill to M inclusive are preferably of the tainers that are capable of receiving storage and self-closing collapsible type (Figure 5), each havshipping cartons of normally unstable commoding a bottom I9 and upstanding walls 20 which 25 ities in conjunction with a refrigerant such as dry are creased and folded longitudinally along and intermediate the side walls to permit the self- Still another object is to provide a plurality of closing collapsing thereof with the bottom l9 disnon-rigid inexpensive containers that are procposed adjacent thereto in overlapping relation essed to provide an insulated member. to confine therewith. 30

a refrigerant and ashipping container for nor- The wall 20 of each of the containers ill to II mally unstable contents. inclusive is provided with an overlapping portion A further object is to provide a plurality of 2| having an adhesive to effect a joinder therenested non-rigid containers having suitable inbetween in the customary manner. The consulating qualities for confining a refrigerant and tainers lllto I l inclusive are preferably though 35 a storage container for normally liquid material not essentially prepared from non-rigid paper of frozen to a substantially solid state. sufiicient thickness to possess thermal insulating A still further object is to provide a. plurality of qualities that may be collapsed together in asnon-rigid containers in conjunction with spacers sembled relation or separately depending upon 40 and a refrigerant to confine and afford the shipthe dictates of commercial practice. The interior 40 ment of normally liquid materials frozen to a ,of the external container I0 is sized to permit the substantially solidstate without any change in reception of a substance confining medium suchthe Consistency o 1 as a rigid container 22 which is filled with nor- Still a further object is to provide a plurality of mally liquid material frozen to a substantially collapsible non-rigid paper containers that may solid state and has a detachable closure 23 ass'o- 45 be fitted with a refrigerant and spacers for the ciated therewith. v confinement of a storage container for normally The external dimensions of the rigid storage liquid material frozen to a substantially solid container 22 aresufficientlyless than the non-rigid state. container ill to provide an annular space 24 thereother objects and advantages will appear from between so that the refrigerant is accessible to 50 the following description of an illustrative mm the exterior of the storage container 22 It will .bodiment of the present invention. be observed that the containers II to I4 inclusive Inthe drawing: have the wall 20 thereof of suflicient length to be Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation of a disposed upon the rigid container "with its rigid plurality of nested containers defining a refrig-' closure 23 so as to provide an end enclosure 6 vision of spacer discs 30 and 3| region 25 that may be gathered or otherwise folded to provide a seal for the interiors thereof, the thermal seal being effected by any suitable fastening expedient such as a cord or tying member 26 that tightly embraces the end of the gathered enclosing portion 25.

In one embodiment (Figure l) the nested containers It! to it inclusive are opened and then maintained in a substantially preformed rigid. shape by means of a solid refrigerant such as slabs of solidified carbon dioxide commonly known as dry ice 2'! and 28 disposed at the bottom and top of the rigid container 22 with its closure 23 so as to provide an annular space 24 therearound so that the refrigerant gas such as carbon dioxide will fill the annular space 24 around the rigid container 22 to maintain the contents in a substan-' tially solid state.

It is preferable though not essential to impregnate or coat the inside non-rigid container l0 and the external non-rigid container II with tar or other suitable insulating material so as to further reduce any possible thermal transmission through the minute wells inherent in the material from which the collapsible containers l0'to I! are prepared. Then, too, the nested containers ID to It are preferably though not essentially enclosed in a burlap exterior enclosure 29 which is beyond 1 the containers I 0 to it and tied together by a fastener 26so as to provide better wearing qualities to the nested containers I0 to H while in transit and to render. more durable the handling thereof.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figure 2,

the structure described in connection with the,

first embodiment (Figurel) is substantially similar and alike in every'detail except for the prothat may be prepared or otherwise formed of corrugated paper to correspond with the cross section of the inside container in in order to hold such in open or expanded position against closing. In order topermit the refrigerant gas to pass around and into the annular space 24, the corrugated spacer discs 30 and iii are perforated as at 32 (Figure 4) to provide communication on both sides thereof. To

this end, a refrigerant such as dry ice slabs 21' and 28' are somewhat smaller than the interior cross section of the inside container I 0 in the event spacer discs 303| are utilized to hold the nested non-rigid containers III to ll in expanded position against collapsing; however, the carbon dioxide gas emitted by the dry ice slabs 2'i'--28' also serves to expand and maintain the containers ID to II rigid.

It will be observed that the apertures 32,in the spacer discs 303i are disposed concentrically in uniform spaced relation to correspond with the diameter of the annular chamber 24 to afford direct communication of the refrigerant gas thereto for passage therein. It should be observed that as the refrigerant such as dry-ice slabs 21-28or 2 |'-28' isgradually converted into its gaseous state, such will further expand the nestedcontainers "-44 inclusive and any excess gases will bleed through the gathered enclosure ends 25 that are held together and fastened by means of the tying member 26; however, the tying member 26 will permit bleeding under pressure so as to preclude rupture to the containers ill to I 4 inclusive.

With the arrangement of parts described above, it will be apparent that a very simple and comparatively inexpensive refrigerated shipping container or containers have been provided that are durable and dependable to maintain the contents of the rigid container 22 in its substantially frozen initial state. Then, too, all excess weight of the component elements has been eliminated and this is conducive to minimum transportation charges. With the collapsible feature of the containers It) to H inclusive as well as the external burlap container 29 in the event the latter is employed as an optional expedient, it will require little space to maintain an inventory of these nested containers with their auxiliary parts,

this being a decided advantage in commercial practice for storage and shipping expedients of this character.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from the invention or sacrificing any advantages or features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in-the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a storage and shipping container for normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state, the combination with a. plurality of non-rigid nested containers that are not self-sustaining nor form-retaining, said containers being open at one end thereof, of solid refrigerants disposed in vertically spaced relation in said containers proximate to the closed bottom and open top thereof, the outer and inner walls of said nested non-rigid containers being coated with a thermal insulating material, a rigid container for confining normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state, said rigid container being--disposed in said non-rigid containers proximate and between said refrigerants, andmeans for closing the end of said non-rigid containers.

2. In a storage and shipping container for normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state, the combination with a plurality of non-rigid nested containers that are not selfsustaining nor form-retaining, said containers bea thermal insulating material, a rigid container for confining normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state, said rigid container being disposed in said non-rigid containers proximate and between said refrigerants, and means for closing the end of said non-rigid containers.

RUSSELL STOVER. 

